Pretty Baby

By AmericanBaby

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Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this story, other than Lacey Scott; they belong to the WB or whatever. I just like writing about them!

Author's Note: I just want to say thank you to misstaraQ, AngelLuva, and lilmonkeygirl31 because they have all been reading! I would really like to know what everyone thinks of the story… I'm a busy girl; I don't have time to write if everyone's going to stop reading after the first chapter! Let me know what you think. I can handle flames, too, I'm a big girl. So I guess that's it. Next chapter as soon as I get five reviews!

-Niki

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Chapter 7, Lucas:

You Could Be Happy

Last night had been the longest of my life. I needed someone to talk to and who was there? No one. Haley's in New York. My mom's in New Zealand. And Brooke… oh, god, Brooke, I really screwed things up with her. I never wanted her to find the stuff that reminded me of Peyton. And the stuff that reminded me of Brooke, every time I thought of Peyton when I looked in that box I thought of Brooke, too. But now she went to California and there's no one.

Knowing everyone was gone made me want to crawl into my bed and stay there all summer. That's exactly what I decided to do, but not before turning on my cd player. A little Snow Patrol was what I needed right now…

You could be happy and I won't know
But you weren't happy the day I watched you go

And all the things that I wished I had not said
Are played on lips 'till it's madness in my head

Is it too late to remind you how we were
But not our last days of silence, screaming, blur

Of course the stupid thing had to be playing the song that reminded me of Brooke. She and I were happy before New York. Before the Peyton box. Before I ruined everything, again.

Most of what I remember makes me sure
I should have stopped you from walking out the door

You could be happy, I hope you are
You made me happier than I'd been by far

I always screw up our relationship. I've ruined plenty of relationships this year. I lost myself along the way, my final was completely true. Just to make it worse, I know what's coming next in the song and I can smell Brooke's shampoo around me. Just like when we both lived here. She was just down the hall and everyone was happy. Dinner that first night- when I was still ignorant about the box- was perfect.

Somehow everything I own smells of you
And for the tiniest moment it's all not true

Do the things that you always wanted to
Without me there to hold you back, don't think, just do

I feel like California will change everything. I can get my act together and Brooke can forget about me. Maybe move on to something better. Someone who won't break her heart into a million pieces as soon as she glues it back together.

More than anything I want to see you go
Take a glorious bite out of the whole world

I wake up an hour later to the sound of Snow Patrol still going on the same song and the phone ringing. I had forgotten that my cd player was broken, Brooke must have taken the good one with her, I groan, knowing I'm going to miss the phone call. It doesn't matter. The machine gets it as soon as I swing my legs over the side of the bed.

"Hey, man. It's Nate. I don't really know what to say, but I really need to talk eto you. I guess call me back. If you want to. Mostly just meet me at the café at 11. Bye, Luke… Oh, yea, I almost forgot… Haley's home."

I can barely believe what I'm hearing. Nathan "needing to talk" and Haley coming home. His voice sounded shaky and unsure, nervous even. As I reached over and replayed the message I saw the clock and it was already 10:35. I figured I could go early and get something to eat before he got there. Maybe Haley would stop by, too. God knows I need to talk to her, or someone. I could always call Peyton, too.

I checked my e-mail; nothing from Brooke, no im's or checking-in e-mails. She's only in my dreams anyway, right? So then I called Peyton and she didn't pick up. I grabbed a new t-shirt from my dresser leaving, on the same jeans I'd been wearing since yesterday morning.

Most of what I remember makes me sure
I should have stopped you from walking out the door

You could be happy, I hope you are
You made me happier than I'd been by far

With Snow Patrol still stuck in my head, I headed out the front door. Heading in the general direction of the café I still hadn't decided whether or not to stop and check in on Peyton.

Chapter Title and Song Lyrics are from Snow Patrol's newest CD, Eyes Open, I know it just came out but I really love this song and I think it fitted this Brucas moment perfectly!

Please, Please, Please let me know what you think so far! I know I said chapter 7 would be up wednesday, and now it's Sunday. But this was so hard to write! And plus, my older sister had her baby on Thursday... a cute little 7 lb healthy baby girl named Isabella D So just be nice and review, the next chapter will be up as soon as I get a second! Niki